Lawrence commission commits to new voting machines

By DAVID E. MALLOY For The Herald-Dispatch dmalloy@herald-dispatch.comMay 9, 2019

SOUTH POINT, Ohio — Lawrence County voters will cast their ballots this fall on new, $1 million-plus voting machines.

The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners, meeting at the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce offices, adopted a resolution Tuesday to approve the purchase of the voting machines. The state is paying $771,645.30 of the cost.

The county’s share of the project is $317,385, according to Chris Kline, deputy county auditor. The board is planning to borrow the money from the Neighborhood Investment Fund, a program through the office of County Treasurer Steve Burcham.

The board adopted another resolution agreeing to replace the membranes (a form of filter) at the Union Rome Sewer District. The project has a $1.5 million price tag and will be paid through user fees. The project could be online by August. The membranes at the sewer plant have to be replaced every 10 years, officials said.

The board also agreed to spend up to $250,000 to finish the Joint Response Operation Center building in Coal Grove. The former automobile dealership is being remodeled to house the 911 center, the Emergency Medical Services operations, county Emergency Management Agency, the county coroner’s office, the county Emergency Planning Commission and some operations of the county sheriff’s office.

The building could be open, pending an occupancy permit, in the next week or two, Kline said. The 911 center will move later this year, he said.

In other action, the board:

• Agreed to spend $35,000 for the alternative to out-of-county prisoner transportation program. The program calls for more ankle monitors and monitoring of prisoners on bond prior to trial.

• Approved a $65,000 contract with the county Community Action Organization for services in 2019.